Thu Nov 07 14:28:02 UTC 2024: ## Nurses vs. Doctors: Heated Debate Over New Geriatric Nursing Course in India

**Kozhikode, Kerala – November 7, 2024** – A new two-year postgraduate course in geriatric nursing, aimed at empowering experienced nurses to provide specialized care for elderly patients, has ignited a heated debate between the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Trained Nurses’ Association of India (TNAI).

The Indian Nursing Council’s initiative, expected to launch soon in nursing and medical colleges nationwide, would allow nurses with a BSc degree to prescribe medication and offer geriatric treatment. This move has been met with staunch opposition from the IMA Kerala branch, who argue that only MBBS qualified doctors are authorized to examine and treat patients.

IMA State president Joseph Benaven and secretary K. Sasidharan denounced the course as “another form of quackery”, claiming that it undermines the role of doctors and poses a risk to patient safety. They called for the government to prioritize expanding postgraduate programs in family and geriatric medicine for doctors instead.

The TNAI, however, defends the course, citing its successful implementation in developed countries like the UK, US, New Zealand, and Canada for decades. They argue that the course will address the growing need for specialized geriatric care, especially in areas lacking access to specialist doctors, such as rural areas and during off-peak hours.

TNAI State president Renu Susan Thomas and secretary Pramina Mukkolath emphasize the growing senior citizen population in Kerala, requiring trained healthcare professionals. They also pointed out that the course’s implementation has faced resistance since 2014, and expressed bewilderment at the IMA’s opposition, considering their national president is a member of the Indian Nursing Council.

This clash highlights the ongoing debate over the role of nurses in modern healthcare systems, with both sides emphasizing patient care and safety from their respective perspectives. The outcome of this debate will likely shape the future of geriatric care in India, as well as the role of nurses in providing specialized medical care.

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